What sort of poo is not normal?

Diarrhea

Your baby may have diarrhea if:

• her poop is very runny
• she is pooing more often, or passing larger amounts than normal
• the poop is explosive or spurts out of her bottom
  

If you are breastfeeding your baby, she is less likely to suffer from diarrhea. This is because your milk helps to prevent the growth of the bacteria that cause it (DH 2009).

Bottle-fed babies are more prone to infection, which is why it's so important to sterilize equipment and always wash your hands thoroughly.

If your baby has diarrhea, the cause could be:

• an infection, such as gastroenteritis
• too much fruit or juice
• a reaction to medication
• a sensitivity or allergy to a food

If you're bottle feeding, your baby could be reacting badly to the brand of formula you're using. But talk to your doctor before you switch brands, in case there is another cause (UNICEF 2010).

If your baby is teething her poo may be looser than normal. If you baby has diarrhea don't assume that her teething is the cause, it's more likely to be an infection.

In an older baby, diarrhea can also be a sign of severe constipation. Fresh poop may be leaking out past a blockage of hard poo (CKS 2010, DH 2009).

Diarrhea should clear up without treatment within 24 hours. If it doesn't, get it checked out as your baby is at risk of dehydration.

If your baby shows any signs of dehydration, take her to the doctor right immediately.

Constipation

Many babies turn bright red and push hard when they have a poo. This is normal.
Constipation, on the other hand, is when:

Your baby seems to have real difficulty in moving her bowels.

Her poops are small and dry, like rabbit droppings. Alternatively, they may be large and hard.

Your baby seems irritable, straining and crying when she has a poop.

Her tummy feels tight to the touch.

Her poops are hard and have streaks of blood in them. This can be caused by tiny cracks in the skin, called anal fissures, caused by passing hard poos (CKS 2010).
Breastfed babies don't tend to suffer as much constipation as bottle-fed babies. Their milk contains all the right nutrients to keep their poops soft (DH 2009).

Mixing up formula milk with too much powder can lead to constipation. Always follow the instructions when making up a bottle. Make sure you put water up to the recommended level first before adding the powder (DH 2009, UNICEF 2010).

Constipation can also be caused by:

• fever
• dehydration
• changes in fluid intake
• a change in diet
• certain medications(CKS 2010)

Sometimes, older babies become constipated because they are trying to avoid pain. For example, they may have a tear in the skin around the opening of the anus (anal fissure). This can become a vicious cycle. Your baby holds on and gets more constipated, and then the pain is even worse when she does eventually go (CKS 2010, DH 2009).

Always take your baby to your doctor as soon as possible if she's constipated, particularly if you notice blood in her poops. They will be able to check out all possible causes (DH 2010).

You'll probably be advised to increase your baby's fluid intake, as well as the amount of fibre in her diet if she is on solids. Giving her pureed prunes or apricots can be a good way to do this.

Green poo

Green poo can be a sign that your baby is taking in too much lactose (the natural sugar found in milk). This can happen if she feeds often, but doesn't get the rich milk at the end of the feed to fill her up. Make sure your baby finishes feeding from one breast before your offer her your other one.

If the symptoms last longer than 24 hours, visit your doctor. The cause may be:

The brand of formula you're using. Some can make your baby's poo dark green (DH 2009).

• A food sensitivity.
• Side effects of medication.
• Your baby's feeding routine.
• A stomach bug.

Very pale poo

This can be a sign of jaundice. This is common in newborns and usually clears up within a couple of weeks of the birth. However, it can be a problem if it lasts longer than this.

Ask your midwife or doctor to check your baby over, even if she doesn't look jaundiced (DH 2009).

Streaks of blood

Your baby's poos may be flecked with blood if she's constipated. This is because straining can cause tiny splits in the skin around her anus (anal fissures). These bleed when she poos.

Always get any blood in your baby's poo checked out by your doctor (DH 2009).

Take a look at our baby poo photo gallery to see what's normal and what's not.